Private rental accommodation currently being occupied by foreign students in Newcastle have been closed down following a routine fire safety inspection by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.

The property, Bolam House on Douglas Terrace, just off Westgate Road in Newcastle was inspected by fire safety officers on Tuesday 8 July. On arrival officers found significant breaches of fire safety regulations and served a prohibition notice, rendering the accommodation block as uninhabitable. The notice issued sets out what must be done to safeguard the students and comply with UK safety laws before it can reopen.

Mark Serrard, station manager for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, carried out the inspection. He said: "Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service take public safety extremely seriously. We see our role as educating and informing businesses about fire safety but where we see significant risk to the public we will use our powers to close premises down.'

"Tyne and Wear Fire Service will not tolerate such a serious threat to the public. There must be some means of warning the occupants of the building there is a fire, they must be able to leave the building safely without encountering obstructed exits or getting trapped by fire because fire doors have been removed. Management of a building must make plans to ensure occupants are safe from fire and blatant disregard for people's safety is not acceptable."

The property was believed to be home to approx 45 overseas students.

On a further visit to the property yesterday fire officers called in the UK Border Agency following concerns over the legal status of some of the occupants. The Police were also called in as were Environmental Health Officers due to concerns over the state of the accommodation.

Cohn Flynn, assistant director of UK Border Agency Operations in Tyne Tees said: "The UK Border Agency is determined to work with other organisations to tackle the wider problems sometimes associated with illegal immigration, such as health and safety breaches. We will seek to remove from the country anyone found to be here illegally."

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service is now gathering evidence for further enforcement action.